Sadat Kisubi, Assistant Commissioner of Finance and Planning in the President’s Office, highlighted the urgency of compensating former tenants, stating that the issue has persisted for years. The 40 billion Shillings fund is crucial to addressing the compensation gap and ensuring that affected individuals receive their due payments.
The eviction of tenants was initially intended to pave the way for a private investor’s construction project, but after its failure, the Cabinet decided to allocate the land to various private developers. The compensation request encompasses the funds needed to settle claims and rectify the long-standing issue faced by the displaced tenants.
In a related matter, Minister Minsa Kabanda urged Parliament to enact a law prohibiting the public from giving money and items to street children. The Minister emphasized that substantial government funds are spent relocating vulnerable children, only for them to return to the streets with the expectation of receiving money. Kabanda suggested that a law prohibiting such actions could help manage the situation effectively.
The Minister’s proposal was prompted by concerns raised by Maj Gen Henry Masiko, an Army Representative, questioning KCCA’s handling of street children and the lack of budgetary provisions for their activities in the upcoming financial year. Kabanda emphasized the need for Parliament’s intervention in addressing the issue and proposed legislation to curb public giving to street children.